I do still exist, contrary to popular belief. I have been knitting, learning to spin and trying to keep up with the whirlwind of activity that the end of the year creates. The lovely little school my children attend is closing in 5 weeks, so I have been organising their transfers for the new school year.

Above is my first attempt at spinning. It's a bit lumpy and strange, but I like it. I didn't get a lot out of the first attempt, so the plan is to knit it into a hot water bottle cover. The next lot is looking much more promising.

I have been enjoying the birdlife in our tiny suburban garden this spring. This little fairy wren is hanging around with his harem. In this phot he was actually scolding the blue peg for infringing on his territory. The males are only blue in the breeding season, and the wrens remain brown throughout the year. I was so excited to discover a tiny nest in the shrubbery outside my bedroom window.

The kingfisher has been hunting from his fence perch. He pointedly ignored me with my camera, sneaking up on him behind the yuccas. They are such sedate birds. We have also been entertaining kookaburras.

My other little visitor has been a baby possum, badly photographed below:

I found him on the road outside our house, valiantly fighting off two crows who clearly thought he would make a most excellent lunch. I gathered him up, and possum sat for the afternoon, until I could take him to the vet to be passed on to licensed carers. He was unhurt, and quite snuggly once he had recovered from his fright. My guess is that he had fallen from Mama possum's back, as there was no sign of a parent anywhere. It's illegal to keep the wildlife as pets, so I had to reluctantly give him up. Josh and I are resolved to investigate becoming wildlife carers next year, so that we can help these 'furry friends'.

I do still exist, contrary to popular belief. I have been knitting, learning to spin and trying to keep up with the whirlwind of activity that the end of the year creates. The lovely little school my children attend is closing in 5 weeks, so I have been organising their transfers for the new school year.

Above is my first attempt at spinning. It's a bit lumpy and strange, but I like it. I didn't get a lot out of the first attempt, so the plan is to knit it into a hot water bottle cover. The next lot is looking much more promising.

I have been enjoying the birdlife in our tiny suburban garden this spring. This little fairy wren is hanging around with his harem. In this phot he was actually scolding the blue peg for infringing on his territory. The males are only blue in the breeding season, and the wrens remain brown throughout the year. I was so excited to discover a tiny nest in the shrubbery outside my bedroom window.

The kingfisher has been hunting from his fence perch. He pointedly ignored me with my camera, sneaking up on him behind the yuccas. They are such sedate birds. We have also been entertaining kookaburras.

My other little visitor has been a baby possum, badly photographed below:

I found him on the road outside our house, valiantly fighting off two crows who clearly thought he would make a most excellent lunch. I gathered him up, and possum sat for the afternoon, until I could take him to the vet to be passed on to licensed carers. He was unhurt, and quite snuggly once he had recovered from his fright. My guess is that he had fallen from Mama possum's back, as there was no sign of a parent anywhere. It's illegal to keep the wildlife as pets, so I had to reluctantly give him up. Josh and I are resolved to investigate becoming wildlife carers next year, so that we can help these 'furry friends'.

Knitting like a maniac at the moment. Winter has well and truly arrived and the needles are in overdrive. I seem to believe that if I start a pair of socks tonight I will be able to have warm feet tomorrow. So here are a few finishes:

Spiral Scarf, a kit I bought at the Morris and Sons stand at a craft fair in March. I also bought cheap bamboo needles so that I could cast on while waiting for Brett to come get me. It was such an easy pattern, and looks pretty amazing.

Star crossed slouchy beret, a Ravelry pattern, knitted in Malabrigo Worsted, colour Pearl. This was another quick and easy one, though Brett was away that week, and I do tend to hyperfocus on stuff in the evenings without him around.

And Cedar Leaf Shawlette, knitted in bronze Handmaiden Lady Godiva, one of the most sensual knitting experiences you could ever have. This yarn is divine.

There are more projects going, of course, a couple very close to completion. Let's hope winter lasts more than the weekend!

Knitting like a maniac at the moment. Winter has well and truly arrived and the needles are in overdrive. I seem to believe that if I start a pair of socks tonight I will be able to have warm feet tomorrow. So here are a few finishes:

Spiral Scarf, a kit I bought at the Morris and Sons stand at a craft fair in March. I also bought cheap bamboo needles so that I could cast on while waiting for Brett to come get me. It was such an easy pattern, and looks pretty amazing.

Star crossed slouchy beret, a Ravelry pattern, knitted in Malabrigo Worsted, colour Pearl. This was another quick and easy one, though Brett was away that week, and I do tend to hyperfocus on stuff in the evenings without him around.

And Cedar Leaf Shawlette, knitted in bronze Handmaiden Lady Godiva, one of the most sensual knitting experiences you could ever have. This yarn is divine.

There are more projects going, of course, a couple very close to completion. Let's hope winter lasts more than the weekend!

The first of June, the first day of winter. Our fair city had a small winter celebration, The Saviours of the Lost Arts, an extravaganza of workshops, markets and tea drinking. The local Council invited the knitters of the city to do a little yarn bombing. The green heart is a logo they use a lot on local council stuff, so hundreds of green hearts were knit and attached to places around the city centre. I searched and searched, but never found any of my contributions. I did love the possum one so much. It's such a cute bronze statue at the bus station.

City hall was taken over by a vast spider's web, with a wooly spider in the centre. There was also the cutest line of baby clothes strung on the other side.

Notable legal minds clearly have interesting hobbies!

There are some large metal spherical sculptures outside the city library. These were wrapped into enormous balls of yarn. I was amused at how many passers by would pause to touch the yarn. The trees also gained a little wolly warmth.

And this kangaroo sculpture is exceptionally well dressed!

The first of June, the first day of winter. Our fair city had a small winter celebration, The Saviours of the Lost Arts, an extravaganza of workshops, markets and tea drinking. The local Council invited the knitters of the city to do a little yarn bombing. The green heart is a logo they use a lot on local council stuff, so hundreds of green hearts were knit and attached to places around the city centre. I searched and searched, but never found any of my contributions. I did love the possum one so much. It's such a cute bronze statue at the bus station.

City hall was taken over by a vast spider's web, with a wooly spider in the centre. There was also the cutest line of baby clothes strung on the other side.

Notable legal minds clearly have interesting hobbies!

There are some large metal spherical sculptures outside the city library. These were wrapped into enormous balls of yarn. I was amused at how many passers by would pause to touch the yarn. The trees also gained a little wolly warmth.

And this kangaroo sculpture is exceptionally well dressed!

My favourite shoes and socks combination at the moment. The shoes are made by Colorado and the socks are a simple stockinette stitch made from Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn.

This weekend I finished my Cedar Leaf Shawlette, knit from the luscious Handmaiden Lady Godiva, a silk and wool blend. The colour is Bronze. It still needs blocking to bring out the shape of the leaf border, but it's just lovely as it is. I am a little sad that this one is going to be given away, and think I might have to make another for myself.

I am such a Bad Blogger. I have been reading, but failing miserably in the commenting and blogging stakes. I have been knitting like a woman possessed, so many finished shawls, scarves and hats and no photos to prove that it really happened. I promise that I'll be doing a whole lot of blocking, photographing and blogging to catch up.

My favourite shoes and socks combination at the moment. The shoes are made by Colorado and the socks are a simple stockinette stitch made from Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn.

This weekend I finished my Cedar Leaf Shawlette, knit from the luscious Handmaiden Lady Godiva, a silk and wool blend. The colour is Bronze. It still needs blocking to bring out the shape of the leaf border, but it's just lovely as it is. I am a little sad that this one is going to be given away, and think I might have to make another for myself.

I am such a Bad Blogger. I have been reading, but failing miserably in the commenting and blogging stakes. I have been knitting like a woman possessed, so many finished shawls, scarves and hats and no photos to prove that it really happened. I promise that I'll be doing a whole lot of blocking, photographing and blogging to catch up.

Firstly a find, this gorgeous brooch was snapped up by yours truly at the nearby Salvation Army thrift store. I have been searching for appropriate shawl pins and this treasure makes a wonderful start to my collection.

Just Enough Ruffles was my winning entry into the Tangled Yarns Malabrigo March competition. I knitted this up with Malabrigo Worsted in Damask Rose, with a Pearl coloured edge due to the lack of forethought of the knitter. I only bought one skein of Rose when I really needed two, and when I went back to the store they had run out of Rose entirely. I won another skein of Malabrigo from the store, so I think I came out on top!

And this is the Simple and Effective Shawl, which I knitted with Noro Silkgarden Sock, using two balls to make it larger. Very snuggly and the colour range goes with almost everything I own. Perfect!

All patterns are available at Ravelry.com.

Firstly a find, this gorgeous brooch was snapped up by yours truly at the nearby Salvation Army thrift store. I have been searching for appropriate shawl pins and this treasure makes a wonderful start to my collection.

Just Enough Ruffles was my winning entry into the Tangled Yarns Malabrigo March competition. I knitted this up with Malabrigo Worsted in Damask Rose, with a Pearl coloured edge due to the lack of forethought of the knitter. I only bought one skein of Rose when I really needed two, and when I went back to the store they had run out of Rose entirely. I won another skein of Malabrigo from the store, so I think I came out on top!

And this is the Simple and Effective Shawl, which I knitted with Noro Silkgarden Sock, using two balls to make it larger. Very snuggly and the colour range goes with almost everything I own. Perfect!

All patterns are available at Ravelry.com.

It has been a busy time around here, with extra choir commitments to work around as well as impromptu guests while my grandmother was in hospital. She has made a great recovery, in spite of being a 'difficult' patient. The only thing I have had time for, with plenty of sitting around by bedsides and in the car waiting for choristers to finish up, is knitting. This is the year of lace for me, and I am very pleased with the results so far.

This delicious shawl is Luna Moth, from Ravelry. I used Malabrigo Silky Merino, in the Smoke colourway. The yarn was purchased from Tangled Yarns, my all time favourite yarn store. I have bought yarn from them online and the speed of delivery would make your head spin. I have also been going to their social knitting morning as often as I can, and always seem to leave with more yarn than I had when I came.

And these two pictures are of my Swallowtail shawl, also a pattern downloadable free from Ravelry. I knitted it with very fine silk from Kaalund Enchante in the shade Glasshouse. I bought this at a craft show, and would certainly buy more. I had to get a circular lace needle, as it was far to frustrating on regular needles, but it is oh so soft and feather light. I used beads to replace the nupps (pictured below) and like that they give the shawlette a little weight, so that it sits really nicely around my neck. I am reknitting this pattern in Malabrigo Lace as a gift for a dear friend having a milestone birthday this year.

It has been a busy time around here, with extra choir commitments to work around as well as impromptu guests while my grandmother was in hospital. She has made a great recovery, in spite of being a 'difficult' patient. The only thing I have had time for, with plenty of sitting around by bedsides and in the car waiting for choristers to finish up, is knitting. This is the year of lace for me, and I am very pleased with the results so far.

This delicious shawl is Luna Moth, from Ravelry. I used Malabrigo Silky Merino, in the Smoke colourway. The yarn was purchased from Tangled Yarns, my all time favourite yarn store. I have bought yarn from them online and the speed of delivery would make your head spin. I have also been going to their social knitting morning as often as I can, and always seem to leave with more yarn than I had when I came.

And these two pictures are of my Swallowtail shawl, also a pattern downloadable free from Ravelry. I knitted it with very fine silk from Kaalund Enchante in the shade Glasshouse. I bought this at a craft show, and would certainly buy more. I had to get a circular lace needle, as it was far to frustrating on regular needles, but it is oh so soft and feather light. I used beads to replace the nupps (pictured below) and like that they give the shawlette a little weight, so that it sits really nicely around my neck. I am reknitting this pattern in Malabrigo Lace as a gift for a dear friend having a milestone birthday this year.

November is turning out to be a productive month.

Shrug This, made from Nepalese recycled silk. It's turned out too small for me, but I am on a weight loss journey at the moment, so I will leave it and try to shrink into it. The silk feels so gorgeous, and I can't wait to fit it! The colour is a bit iffy in this picture, it's actually a peacock blue / green. And I haven't woven in the ends yet. I hate that bit.

My second teacher's Christmas gift has been started. This is one evening's worth of stitching. Once more the colour is dodgy, the thread is a gorgeous silvery blue.

The first teacher's ornament is all over bar the shouting. It will be a biscornu, so I have yet to do a plain square (with names and dates, I think) for the back. I adore this one, and will be making it again for my own home.

And today I made a beach tote to take on holiday while we travel to a gorgeous beachside resort for a family wedding. The pattern came from a newly released book, The Crafty Minx, by Kelly Doust. It was a simple plan to follow, and only took a couple of hours to make, factoring in two phonecalls with my bff and a snack break.

November is turning out to be a productive month.

Shrug This, made from Nepalese recycled silk. It's turned out too small for me, but I am on a weight loss journey at the moment, so I will leave it and try to shrink into it. The silk feels so gorgeous, and I can't wait to fit it! The colour is a bit iffy in this picture, it's actually a peacock blue / green. And I haven't woven in the ends yet. I hate that bit.

My second teacher's Christmas gift has been started. This is one evening's worth of stitching. Once more the colour is dodgy, the thread is a gorgeous silvery blue.

The first teacher's ornament is all over bar the shouting. It will be a biscornu, so I have yet to do a plain square (with names and dates, I think) for the back. I adore this one, and will be making it again for my own home.

And today I made a beach tote to take on holiday while we travel to a gorgeous beachside resort for a family wedding. The pattern came from a newly released book, The Crafty Minx, by Kelly Doust. It was a simple plan to follow, and only took a couple of hours to make, factoring in two phonecalls with my bff and a snack break.